Best Cool Mom Picks Podcasts (2024)

1
5 Small Life Edits to Create Big, Positive Change in Your Life: Dr. Christine Koh 36:51

7d ago36:51

36:51

"Life is hard. Adulting is hard. The political climate is hard," confesses Dr. Christine Koh, one of my favorite humans and the host of the Edit Your Life Show. So she's here to share 5 small (really!) life edits you can make right now, that have immediate and positive impact. One of my favorite: Identifying the kinds of people you should be spendi…

1
Freezing your eggs in your 30s with Ali Ryan 53:26

5h ago53:26

53:26

This week's guest is media mogul Alexandra Ryan, owner and brains behind the incredible Irish media brand, Goss Media. Ali joins me this week to talk all things egg freezing. Having undergone the process twice in recent years, Ali knows the ins and outs. We discuss her motivation for embarking on the process, the financial implications, the side ef…

1
Where mental illness and motherhood converge, with Sophie White 56:35

4d ago56:35

56:35

TRIGGER WARNING: Suicide/suicidal ideation. My guest this week, and our first back for Season 14, is Sophie White. A prolific and massively successful author and podcaster, Sophie is also mother to three boys between 10 and 4 and has battled with mental illness since she was in her early 20s. As Sophie says herself in the episode, it's not often so…

1
Social Media, Kids and Mental Health: Dr. Devorah Heitner on What We're Getting Wrong 31:23

14d ago31:23

31:23

This episode is a must-listen for all parents of kids who have smartphones, especially if you're worried about the impact of social media on mental health. Dr. Devorah Heitner a renowned author and expert on kids and technology, joins me to provide thought-provoking insights that challenge a lot of the conventional wisdom, so get ready for a fresh …

1
Brutally honest college admissions questions from teens: Asked and answered 25:56

22d ago25:56

25:56

So here's a fun surprise: Today, my own daughter and rising high school senior, Sage, joins me on Spawned for the first time! She's asking fantastic questions about college admissions on behalf of teens who have shared them with us. In our third and final podcast in our Insider's Guide to College Admissions, with Alyse Levine of Premium Prep, you'l…

1
Jonathan Van Ness: Creating a culture of acceptance for kids who are different 31:08

1M ago31:08

31:08

What a treat to have 30 minutes during Pride Month with the one and only Jonathan Van Ness, who's out with a brand new children's book, Gorgeously Me! We're talking about how to create a culture of acceptance for kids who are different, but we touch on so much more. Like the book that traumatized Jonathan as a kid (eek!), their strongest memory of …

1
"I'm a cool mom" – Kelly Fitzsimons on being friends with her teenage daughter while also being her parent 54:00

1M ago54:00

54:00

Can you believe we've reached the end of the season! My last guest for season 13 is the very lovely Kelly Fitzsimons – formerly known on Instagram at least as MissEllaMayandMommy. Kelly had her daughter Ella aged 19 and her following online grew as the two of them grew up together. Sharing outfit posts with matching dresses, their mother daughter r…

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A grade-by-grade guide to college admissions with Alyse Levine 49:21

1M ago49:21

49:21

I am so happy to continue our 3-Part Insider Guide to the College Admission Process with my guest, Alyse Levine, one of the country's most prominent college counseling experts. Today we're focusing on a grade-by-grade guide to supporting our kids on the path toward college applications. Some of the topics we cover: Why middle school should be about…

1
"I'm still a mother, no matter what" - Dominique Nugent's heartbreaking story of late-stage miscarriage. 1:01:50

2M ago1:01:50

1:01:50

I was so so grateful to this week's guest for joining me on the podcast. The lovely Dominique Nugent so bravely chatted to me about her experience, earlier this year, of late stage miscarriage. Dominique was a day short of 16 weeks when she delivered her baby, who had not survived in utero. She so generously decided now was the time to talk about i…

1
Brad Meltzer: Empathy, Kindness, Magic, Transformation, and That One Guy in the Restroom That One Time 26:47

2M ago26:47

26:47

Fresh off his viral commencement address at the University of Michigan, I'm joined by best-selling author Brad Meltzer. (Yes, that Brad Meltzer from the "I Am..." biographical children's books we all own!) He talks about his thoughts on kindness as a "naive ideal worth fighting for," the need for more empathy online, his love for the Harlem Globetr…

1
Finding the balance as a single parent, with Liadán Hynes 53:36

2M ago53:36

53:36

My guest this week is my lovely friend, author, and journalist Liadán Hynes, who is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to parenting, and life in general really. She's a single parent to one daughter who's 9 years old. She's self-employed and works flexibly to be as present as she can for her little girl and writes often about her experiences as a …

1
Your Questions Answered - Carla Kelly chats pregnancy, postpartum and parenthood 47:38

2M ago47:38

47:38

My guest this week is Carla Kelly, who is one of the founders of Ask The Midwife, a company that aims to support parents from pregnancy through to postpartum and beyond. A midwife herself, we asked you guys, our cherished listeners, to put questions to her that you might need advice on. We talked about an incredible grandparents refresher course th…

1
How to help your chid identify and develop their passions, with Alyse Levine of Premium Prep 31:02

2M ago31:02

31:02

As parents of teens know, it's the college admission season. That's why I am thrilled to welcome back Alyse Levine, one of the most prominent college counseling experts, to help us out. You all loved my interview with her in January about de-stressing college admissions, which is why I invited her for a 3-Part Parent's Guide to the College Admissio…

1
Assessment anxiety: When to seek help, with Caroline Foran 54:39

2M ago54:39

54:39

My wonderful friend Caroline Foran is my guest this week, and a returning guest to Everymum the podcast. This time, we talk about her most recent struggles with her son Caelan, and how she has recently undergone assessments with various clinical assessors to help better understand her son's unique needs. We talk about the anxiety over a potential f…

1
Have we been thinking about kindness all wrong? With guest Jaclyn Lindsey of Kindness.org 30:06

2M ago30:06

30:06

Spawned is back (whoo!) with host Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks and Mom-101. I'm excited to get back to what I love most-- helping us get through the ups and downs of parenting together. Each week I'll be joined by compelling experts, best-selling authors, entrepreneurs, comedians, therapists, and even some big celebrities. I'm thrilled to kick t…

1
Putting it out there: Shannen Joyce on single motherhood, illness and moving forward 53:06

3M ago53:06

53:06

My guest this week is Shannen Bulman Joyce, who was previously known on social media as Big C and Me, because she used her platform to document her cancer journey. Over the course of her adult life, just the past ten years, she's been diagnosed with and survived cancer three times. She's now the healthiest she's ever been, and is thriving and livin…

1
Double miracle: Rosanna Davison's rollercoaster parenting journey 54:36

3M ago54:36

54:36

My guest today is model and mam of three, Rosanna Davison. Over the past few years, life has changed dramatically for Rosanna. From going through a tragic 14 miscarriages and believing she wouldn't be able to carry a pregnancy to term, she and her husband sought the help of a surrogate from Ukraine to make their dream of having a family come true. …

1
When motherhood just doesn't go as planned, with Kelly Donegan 1:11:32

3M ago1:11:32

1:11:32

Kelly Donegan is my guest this week – you might know Kelly, if you're a millennial like me, from Tallafornia, a reality show she starred in 12 years ago now. If you've been following her online, you'll have seen her go from reality TV star to fitness expert to now, a mammy of one. Since her daughter Cherry arrived, Kelly's plans for motherhood have…

1
Revisiting life with triplet boys, four years on with Ali Deasy 56:50

3M ago56:50

56:50

My guest this week is Ali Deasy, who is famous where she lives as the mother who is shadowed everywhere she goes by her gorgeous triplets, Bruce Ted and Lenny. Ali has been a guest on Everymum in the past, but I saw recently she spoke online about her mental health struggle when the boys were between the ages of 2 and 3 years old. I caught up with …

1
Why is miscarriage still such a taboo subject? With the Fertility Detective - Jessica Bourke 50:18

3M ago50:18

50:18

Warning: This episode discusses baby loss. My guest for this episode is Jessica Bourke, otherwise known as The Fertility Detective. She's known among her followers and patients for her honest, straightforward and compassionate approach to all things fertility, and as she says online, she has nearly two decades of experience helping people to get an…

1
Superyachts and time zone hops : Sleep trainer to the stars Kelly Geoghegan 53:53

4M ago53:53

53:53

My incredible guest this week is the OG sleep coach in Ireland, the person with thousands of hours of pacing hallways and bedrooms with babies in her arms – Kelly Geoghegan. Kelly's business, Sleepy Stars, is all about helping babies with sleep. But her fascinating career has featured superyachts, helicopters and changing time zones twice in a week…

1
Why gentle parenting doesn't actually involve letting your children do whatever they want - Sarah Ockwell Smith. 59:44

5M ago59:44

59:44

This week I spoke to Sarah Ockwell Smith, a parenting expert who has written 15 books on parenting over the course of her career. While we could've covered a number of topics, what I really wanted to speak to her about was the idea of gentle parenting and what it really is. Like you, I've seen Instagram memes and Tiktokers talk about gentle parenti…

1
Did you know one in six people experience infertility? - Karen Ferguson 54:59

5M ago54:59

54:59

Today's guest is Karen Ferguson, head of nursing and clinical services with SIMS IVF. I'll be completely honest, my knowledge of all things fertility and infertility was minimal, that is – before I spoke to Karen. We went back to basics, and discussed things like the stigma around talking about fertility struggles, what exactly is involved in an eg…

1
The fourth trimester and advocating for yourself, with Kathy Milliken 58:12

6M ago58:12

58:12

I was joined for today's episode by Kathy Milliken. Kathy is a baby, birth and post-partum expert in so many ways: She's trained as a doula, she's trained in breastfeeding counselling, she's a qualified pre- and post-natal yoga instructor, among other things. And yet, with all her experience, she told me she didn't really KNOW what motherhood would…

1
Having a home birth on your first baby: Aisling Kearns shares her brave story. 49:11

6M ago49:11

49:11

This episode had me wide-eyed with my jaw on the floor, as returning guest Aisling Kearns shares the story of her home birth. Aisling's son Tommy was just four weeks old when we recorded, and slept like an angel throughout. Having spoken to a doula and read a book about childbirth as a rite of passage, Aisling decided a home birth was for her, even…

1
A college guidance expert and former admissions officer helps de-stress the application process. Phew! | Ep 301 36:00

6M ago36:00

36:00

It is so tough to navigate the college search and admission process -- emotionally, practically, financially. (Eep!) It completely stressed me out, and I'm a pretty Type B mom. So learn from my mistakes! To kick off a new year of Spawned, we're lucky to be getting super helpful tips from Alyse Levine, one of the foremost college counseling experts …

1
Payal Desai chats about her viral "Dusty Sons" videos and modern parenting approach. 21:51

6M ago21:51

21:51

This week, I was so pleased to be able to speak to online parenting sensation Payal Desai, who joined me all the way from New Jersey (albeit on a slightly glitchy Zoom call for which I blame my own dodgy broadband) where she lives with her husband and two little boys. Payal is a middle school teacher and content creator who went insanely viral with…

1
A new dad's perspective on pregnancy, delivery and those newborn months - Robert Burke 1:10:13

7M ago1:10:13

1:10:13

My guest this week is Rob Burke – Rob is a friend of mine, and one of the most articulate people I know, and so I knew that he'd be the perfect person to speak to about the experiences of a new dad. From pregnancy, where he says he felt his duty was to take care of his wife, to the delivery suite and cutting the umbilical cord and being a human sti…

1
How moms can find some holiday joy for themselves: With Margaret Ables | Ep 300 26:49

8M ago26:49

26:49

At the end of such a tough year, we're looking to find all the holiday joy where we can, and make fun for our kids -- but why do moms always seem to be the people behind the fun, and not part of the fun? Liz is joined by Margaret Ables, co-host of the fabulous What Fresh Hell parenting podcast to commiserate, and we're offering smart tips (eg stop …

1
Model mum Kelly Horrigan: How Kelly's recovery from birth is still ongoing over a year later 43:14

7M ago43:14

43:14

This week I speak to Irish model and mother of one Kelly Horrigan. Although Kelly delivered her beautiful little boy almost 14 months ago now, she is still feeling the long-term effects of her delivery. After her son's birth, Kelly found she had something called pudendal neuralgia, which sees her in constant nerve pain from her episiotomy scar all …

1
Changing your mind is okay: From childfree by choice to becoming a mam with Siobhan O'Hagan 55:57

8M ago55:57

55:57

Today's guest is influencer and first time mam, Siobhan O'Hagan. In her previous life as a fitness influencer, Siobhan's goals and values were always crystal clear: She enjoyed the freedom that came with her life moving from Bali to Thailand to London and back to Ireland. She was vocal about her choice not to have children, and for a long time that…

1
"It's nothing like you think it's going to be" - Lorna Weightman's birth story and breastfeeding struggle 1:05:33

8M ago1:05:33

1:05:33

For our first episode back for Season 12, I'm joined by fashion influencer and stylist Lorna Weightman and possibly our youngest ever guest, 9 week old Arthur was also on the Zoom being an absolute angel. Lorna and I discovered that we both approached parenthood with a "will I or won't I?" mentality – we weren't 100% convinced it was for us, until …

1
Giovanna Fletcher wants to let you know you're not alone. 50:25

9M ago50:25

50:25

We're already on our last episode of Season 11, and I can't wait to bring you more episodes as we head into season 12 really soon. But we wanted to round out this season on a high and I think we may have achieved it... What a total and utter joy it was to interview this week's guest. A dream podcast interviewee, I spoke to Giovanna Fletcher, author…

1
Why no one else understands the mental load of motherhood, with Dr Doireann O'Leary 47:34

9M ago47:34

47:34

This week, Dr Doireann O'Leary joins me to talk about her experience of motherhood so far. Her son is nine months old, and while she doesn't share his name or face online, she is very open about how she's finding the transition into parenthood. We chat about taking time for yourself and letting go of the guilt around that. She says quite rightly th…

1
Why a postpartum retreat should be mandatory - Talya Benjamin 48:35

9M ago48:35

48:35

This week's episode I'm joined by Talya Benjamin. She's a new mother, living in New York, and when she was discharged from hospital after having her first baby, she checked in to a postpartum retreat called Boram. Research shows that dedicated postnatal care improves the health and well-being of mothers and their babies – and that's exactly what th…

1
Breastfeeding, bedsharing, and the reality of parent shaming, with Melanie Murphy 1:02:08

10M ago1:02:08

1:02:08

Joining me this week on the podcast is Youtuber, author and mother of two Melanie Murphy. Melanie's approach to parenthood really resonates with me, and we talk a lot about both feeling very strongly that whatever way you want to parent is your choice, and no one else's. She discusses her choice to bedshare with her babies, her choice to talk about…

1
Navigating kids, body image, and food - Clare McKenna 55:39

10M ago55:39

55:39

Clare McKenna joins me to talk childhood nutrition. Clare is the OG wellness guru, having spent years trialling and testing the latest in wellness trends, diets, and fitness fads, only to discover a few years back that balance was key. As a parent, she wanted to be sure to foster a healthy relationship with body and with food in her two children. A…

1
What it's like to fear your own child, with Audrey Dore-Geraghty 55:17

10M ago55:17

55:17

My guest this week is Audrey Dore-Geraghty. I first saw her story in the Irish Independent, where she spoke with incredible honesty about the heart-breaking struggle she and her family are facing with their son Harrison. Diagnosed with autism at two years old, he's now 9 and his behaviours have become increasingly physical and aggressive, to the po…

1
Monotonous or magical? Rosemary Mac Cabe on the reality of parenting 59:22

10M ago59:22

59:22

All the way from Fort Wayne Indiana, this week's guest is author, journalist and podcaster Rosemary Mac Cabe. We cover a LOT, but one of the most fascinating topics was the difference between maternity leave here in Ireland versus the states – when I say the US system is crazy, I'm not joking. We also talk about how motherhood has come naturally to…

1
The solution to the parenting/work struggle - Michelle O'Keeffe, Co-founder of Platform 55 54:24

11M ago54:24

54:24

Michelle O'Keeffe, co-founder of Platform 55, helps employees and companies balance the demands of family life with their careers. They guide companies around maternity and paternity leave practices, flexible working, and various family needs, by appealing to their bottom line – it costs so much more to rehire and retrain a talented employee than t…

1
Forget the online version of motherhood...with Dearbhla Toal aka Belle Azzure 1:04:41

11M ago1:04:41

1:04:41

Dearbhla Toal, or Belle Azzure, joins me to talk about all the challenges of motherhood, and how she's passionate about keeping things real when it comes to her own experience of being a parent. Expecting her second baby, Dearbhla is a parent to a toddler. She’s also a personal trainer, a Google marketer and an online influencer – you can imagine m…

1
Your dream came true, It's twin girls - Jenny Dixon 50:04

11M ago50:04

50:04

Joining me this episode is actress Jenny Dixon, mum to twin baby girls, Bella and Capri. Herself and her husband Tom Neville went through a three-year-long fertility process, suffering losses along the way, but have found their happy ending with their girls. Jenny chats to me – in her infectiously positive way – about trying to stay positive and st…

1
Parenting kids in a gender-nonconforming world: Kate Brookes of Transister | Ep 299 35:34

1y ago35:34

35:34

We all say we want to raise kids who are happy, healthy, and can be their authentic selves. So what happens when your kid is becoming someone who's really different from what we had imagined? That's the story Kate Brookes tells in the wonderful Transister: Raising Twins in a Gender-Bending World. She's incredibly forthcoming, funny, reflective, and…

1
"I Might Just Go 'Give Me The F*cking Epidural!'" with Aisling Kearns 51:07

1y ago51:07

51:07

Joining Aisling Keenan for the season 10 finale is the sparkling and hilarious Aisling Kearns, who you might be more familiar with as the 'Irish mammy' TikTok star. She's made us all laugh with her sketches about Irish mammies, and is now pregnant with her first child. We talk about how her relaxed approach to delivery, her choice to practice hypno…

1
Dr. Devorah Heitner on Keeping Kids Healthy on Social Media | Ep 298 34:06

1y ago34:06

34:06

When the Surgeon General issued his recent advisory on social media and the health of our kids, I knew author, columnist, and adolescent digital media expert Dr. Devorah Heitner would be the perfect person to ask for guidance and reassurance. And wow does she come through! Here, she offers incredibly helpful, specific tips about what we can do as p…

1
Your Time Is Not Your Own” - Niamh De Brún-Reid On First Time Motherhood 47:54

1y ago47:54

47:54

Niamh De Brún-Reid chats to host Aisling Keenan about her experience as a first time mum to daughter Harper. Niamh talks about looking after her psychical and mental health during pregnancy and the fourth trimester, and how an undiagnosed tongue complicated her breastfeeding experience. Niamh chats about the decision to share your child's face on s…

1
Sleep Training… What You Really Need To Know - Anneka Muir 1:07:04

1y ago1:07:04

1:07:04

Ever heard the phrase ‘sleeps like a baby’ and laugh? As parents, sleeping like a baby can mean little to no sleep at all, but it might not have to be that way…There are a lot of misconceptions and misinformation around the concept of sleep training which prompted host Aisling Keenan to chat to sleep coach Anneka Muir. They talk about the science a…

1
Dr. Lisa Damour on the emotional lives of teenagers | Episode 297 27:41

1y ago27:41

27:41

Bestselling author, podcast host, and psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour shares her insights and thoughtful advice on raising emotionally connected and resilient teens and discusses the impetus for her newest book, The Emotional Lives of Teenagers. Visit Cool Mom Picks for show notes, and follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Learn…

1
Would You Hire A Night Nurse For Your Newborn? - Antoinette Connolly 40:43

1y ago40:43

40:43

Antoinette Connolly is a neonatal nurse who cares for infants and seriously ill babies day in, day out. But at night time? She helps new mums and dads get through those intense, sleepless early months by coming into the home to do "night duty”. Antoinette talks to host Aisling Keenan about her job and the trust parents need to feel comfortable hand…

1
Baby Loss, Mum Guilt, and Parenting Three Boys - Anna Daly 53:18

1y ago53:18

53:18

TV presenter and entrepreneur Anna Daly chats to host Aisling Keenan about the trauma of baby loss, how she and her husband parent their three boys, and taking time out from the daily grind. Anna talks about wanting to be more present when with her children, how she suffered devastating pregnancy losses before having her first child, and how no one…

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